Lent and the Sufficient Work of Christ

In Reformed Baptist Fellowship on Monday, February 20, 2012 at 10:21 am

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been inclined to focus on the practice of Lent.  I’ve seen my Roman Catholic friends do this for years, but I never gave it much thought.  Yet Lutherans, Anglicans, and other denominations inheriting the Reformation tradition also observe this part of the liturgical calendar.  Most people who practice Lent sacrifice something from their daily life (usually a food item) from Ash Wednesday until Maundy Thursday.

Its purported purpose is to imitate the suffering and temptation of Christ during His forty-day fast in the desert.  In centuries past, the methods of penance were much more serious compared to the types of self-denial we commonly see today.  Giving up sweets (for example) during the Lenten season may indeed trivialize the sufferings of Christ, but that’s not my main reason for opposing the practice.

Of the many theological errors before us, one of the most common is the confusion between historia salutis (redemption accomplished) and ordo salutis (redemption applied).  The former represents those once-for-all, unrepeatable events in redemptive history.  Roman Catholicism, for example, makes the serious mistake of confusing historia salutis and ordo salutis with respect to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross (i.e., their practice of the Mass in which Christ is “re-sacrificed”).  Charismatic movements do the same thing with Pentecost.

Similarly, the practice of Lent takes the historia salutis event of Christ in the desert and turns it into something which can be counterfeited on an individual level.  In doing so, it fits perfectly with a works-righteousness mentality.  Inherent within Lent is the idea that its practice brings one “closer to God,” making a man-centered mockery of God’s grace.

Read more -->HERE.

The Five Points of Reformed Baptist Churches

I came across this while researching for Puritans...interesting outline for Reformed Baptist churches.

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The Five Points of Reformed Baptist Churches

A brief out-line of our distinctive convictions Adapted and Developed by Pastor David Charles

I REFORMATIONAL

A. Sola Scriptura - The Bible is the complete, closed and clear authority in all matters of faith.
B. Solus Christus - Our confidence is in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
C. Sola Gratia - Grace secured redemption without reference to works.
D. Sola Fide - We are declared righteous by God through faith alone (1).
E. Soli Deo Gloria - Goal of creation and redemption is God‘s praise.

II CALVINISTIC

A. Total Depravity - The fall of Adam affected the totality of man’s person (2).
B. Unconditional Election - Election is not based on foreseen faith or works (3).
C. Limited Atonement - Redemption was accomplished by Christ for elect (4) .
D. Irresistible Grace - Regeneration by the Holy Spirit is efficacious for elect.
E. Perseverance of the Saints - God will, by grace, complete what He began in regeneration of the elect.

III PURITAN

A. Godliness in Worship - Regulative Principle of Worship(5), the Lord’s Day as a Christian Sabbath.
B. Godliness in Preaching - Primacy of preaching. Both exposition and application emphasized.
C. Godliness in Instruction - Confessional and catholic. Publishing what we believe the Bible teaches (6).
D. Godliness in Family - Parents are to instruct (catechize) and discipline their children in the Lord.
E. Godliness in Behavior - Maintaining a good conscience before God and man.

IV COVENANTAL

A. Unity of the Bible - Many parts yet one message.
B. Christ-centered interpretation - Jesus’ person, work and kingdom is the theme of the Bible.
C. Law / Gospel distinction - Law (7) commands and condemns. Gospel saves (8).
D. One way of salvation - Christ has saved all the elect throughout all the ages.
E. Optimistic view of history - Jesus Christ is now King ruling over all. He will soon come again.

V BAPTIST
A. Biblical Church Practice - Ordinances for believers only (9). Church discipline lovingly exercised.
B. Biblical Church Freedom - The state is not to intrude into matters of conscience.
C. Biblical Church Government - Elders and deacons. The local congregation chooses its leaders (10).
D. Biblical Church Growth - Gospel proclamation to the world. Repentance and Faith demanded of all.
E. Biblical Church Ministry - Priesthood of all believers (11).


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(1) This is an imputed alien righteousness. Justification is perfect, neither waxing nor waning.
(2) We agree with Martin Luther that man‘s “will comes from the devil and from Adam.”
(3) A Calvinistic understanding of Salvation: We reject all man centered understanding of salvation.
(4) “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21 cf. John 10:11,14-18,24-29; Acts 20:28; Isa. 53
(5) As opposed to the “Normative principle” which states that what is not forbidden is allowed. Our worship service is built around the Scriptures read, preached and sang.
(6) We hold to the Second London Baptist Confession of Faith 1689. Additionally the Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian and Chalcedonian creeds express our understanding of orthodoxy.
(7) We recognize the “Three uses of the law.” First, the law serves as a guide to society in promoting civic righteousness. Secondly, the law convicts sinners and drives them to Christ. Thirdly, the law directs Christians in holy living.
(8) Law and Gospel are in both Old and New Testaments. The gospel is the promises of God to His elect.
(9) Infant baptism is alien to the practice of the New Testament. Likewise, immersion is the proper mode of baptism.
(10) “A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church.” We recognize no greater authority than the local church.
(11) The local church is a spiritual family where relationships are to be open and honest. All matters are handled in charity and patience. Only through every-member participation can individuals grow in grace and love.

What is the Hebrew Roots Movement?

This topic continues to be of interest to me. There was a recent discussion and  a link provided for the following article. I found it informative and enlightening. Be encouraged to be discerning in all matters.

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The premise of the Hebrew Roots movement is the belief that the Church has veered far from the true teachings and Hebrew concepts of the Bible. The movement maintains that Christianity has been indoctrinated with the culture and beliefs of Greek and Roman philosophy and that ultimately biblical Christianity, taught in churches today, has been corrupted with a pagan imitation of the New Testament gospels.

Those of the Hebrew Roots belief hold to the teaching that Christ's death on the cross did not end the Mosaic Covenant, but instead renewed it, expanded its message, and wrote it on the hearts of His true followers. They teach that the understanding of the New Testament can only come from a Hebrew perspective and that the teachings of the Apostle Paul are not understood clearly or taught correctly by Christian pastors today. Many affirm the existence of an original Hebrew-language New Testament and, in some cases, denigrate the existing New Testament text written in Greek. This becomes a subtle attack on the reliability of the text of our Bible. If the Greek text is unreliable and has been corrupted, as is charged by some, the Church no longer has a standard of truth.

Although there are many different and diverse Hebrew Roots assemblies with variations in their teachings, they all adhere to a common emphasis on recovering the "original" Jewishness of Christianity. Their assumption is that the Church has lost its Jewish roots and is unaware that Jesus and His disciples were Jews living in obedience to the Torah. For the most part, those involved advocate the need for every believer to walk a Torah-observant life. This means that the ordinances of the Mosaic Covenant must be a central focus in the lifestyle of believers today as it was with the Old Testament Jews of Israel. Keeping the Torah includes keeping the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week (Saturday), celebrating the Jewish feasts and festivals, keeping the dietary laws, avoiding the "paganism" of Christianity (Christmas, Easter, etc.), and learning to understand the Scriptures from a Hebrew mindset. They teach that Gentile Christians have been grafted into Israel, and this is one reason every born-again believer in Jesus the Messiah is to participate in these observances. It is expressed that doing this is not required out of legalistic bondage, but out of a heart of love and obedience. However, they teach that to live a life that pleases God, this Torah-observant walk must be part of that life.

The Hebrew Roots assemblies are often made up of a majority of Gentiles, including Gentile rabbis. Usually they prefer to be identified as "Messianic Christians." Many have come to the conclusion that God has "called" them to be Jewish and have accepted the theological position that the Torah (Old Testament law) is equally binding on Gentiles and Jews alike. They often wear articles of traditional Jewish clothing, practice Davidic dancing, and incorporate Hebrew names and phrases into their writing and conversations. Most reject the use of the name "Jesus" in favor of Yeshua or YHWH, claiming that these are the "true" names that God desires for Himself. In most cases, they elevate the Torah as the foundational teaching for the Church, which brings about the demotion of the New Testament, causing it to become secondary in importance and only to be understood in light of the Old Testament. The idea that the New Testament is faulty and relevant only in light of the Old Testament has also brought the doctrine of the Trinity under attack by many advocates of the Hebrew Roots beliefs.

Read more-->HERE.